A female-fronted band with a larger-than-life sound, Berklee alt-rockers, Self Portraits, employ an impressive, accessible sound that is sure to leave a mark on the Boston music scene.  Their music is full of varied influences, catchy pop sensibilities with an arena rock energy.  Full of soaring guitars and powerhouse vocals, Self Portraits is a force to be reckoned with.  Catch them at The Red Room at Cafe 939 on 2/17 with The Interlopers and Brandon Diaz ‘N Soul. -Brian Varneke

 There’s an inviting quality to New World Haunts, the debut effort from indie-rock group, White Cassette.  It’s an original, atmospheric sound that never outstays its welcome.  Filled with subtle, mature grooves and intelligent, emotional lyrics, Haunts, is an impressively refined entry for the Boston quintet.  The album is available on most streaming platforms, but take a few minutes to brush up on your ping-pong skills, and check out the video for their single "Whywhom" below. -Brian Varneke

 In an effort to help combat the ongoing water crisis in Flint, MI, Boston-based alt/soul-rockers Aloud have teamed up with Kendra Jones of Brooklyn’s Cold Blood Club to lend a helping hand through their new single "Agua Mala".  Frustrated with the three year, man-made disaster that has rocked a community and taken away a basic human commodity, this collaboration gives listeners a way to give much needed support to the people of Flint.  All proceeds from downloads of "Agua Mala" will go directly to the Flint Water Fund set up by The United Way of Genesee County. –Brian Varneke

 With their new single "House Boy", Boston alt-rockers Whatever Whatever have re-asserted themselves as buzzworthy newcomers to the New England scene.  If you missed their debut EP, Who’s This, we encourage you to go back and check it out.  The two works combined create a relevant and individual voice, both lyrically and musically, that is rare for a band of their limited discography.  "House Boy" (produced by Converse Rubber Tracks producer, David Minehan) is a taste of things to come, and we can’t wait to see where their road leads next. –Brian Varneke

 Not to be confused with Math the Band (those guys are retired), Math the Band The Band is a 6-piece electro-punk band from Providence that brings a consistently catchy, youthful, synth-heavy brand of punk rock to the New England scene (think Bomb the Music Industry, but more infectious).  Formed over 15 years ago by songwriting duo, Kevin Steinhauser and Justine Mainville, Math the Band (the Band) has grown and evolved into a major voice, both locally and nationally.  An auditory sugar rush, these guys are guaranteed to tear the roof off of any venue, including the Middle East, where they will be performing on 2/18 with Old Table, Request Freebird, and Ben Hersey. –Brian Varneke

 Thank God For Science is an intergalactic collage of 70s funk, reggae grooves, soaring synths, orchestral arrangements, and spoken word monologues, coming together to form a debut record in Volume One.  The album is a sort of auditory found art piece, taking concepts and styles that you are familiar with and combining them in a way that is unique and eclectic.  Fully instrumental, Volume One would work just as well as a film soundtrack as a full-length album.  Check out Thank God for Science, performing at State Park in Cambridge, MA on 2/26. –Brian Varneke

Transcendental indie-funk band Jelani Sei has released a genre-bending second EP in Kaaria, a study in ethereal soundscapes mixed with soulful vocals and nasty funk grooves.  The vocal work is exemplary, with complimenting performances from Kayana Guity and Evan Lawrence that work seemlessly together to create a unified voice.  Catchy hooks, inventive songwriting, and tight instrumentals make Kaaria a release that is not to be missed. –Brian Varneke

 Boston vocal trio, The Doped Up Dollies, first garnered the spotlight as the backing singers for ska/punk legends Big D and the Kids Table.  They have since set out on their own and released a debut record in The New Way Out, a mesmerizing blend of roots rock, Motown R&B, dub, and revival ska, coming together to create a new genre: "stroll".  This time, members of Big D take a backseat as the supporting band for these three powerhouse vocalists.  The New Way Out is pure fun and incessantly danceable.  Experience it live on 2/14 at O’Brien’s Pub, with support from The Pomps, Mickey Rickshaw, and Whoopi Sticks. –Brian Varneke

 In case you missed them as one of our featured artists for December, it’s not too late to check out New Haven alt-garage rockers, Western Estates.  With tonal flavors ranging from post-punk to grunge to pop, Western Estates dance within and around those genres enough to never quite be pinned down by any of them.  From the bright, catchy "One and Done" to the darker, harmonically complex "Alone, To Get Her", their new EP Me First gives a glimpse into the eclectic nature of the band. –Brian Varneke

The Cambridge 7-piece, Baeja Vu, is a one-of-a-kind mixture of throwback R&B, hip-hop, and funk.  Sporting dual vocals, the counterpoint of soulful melody vs acrobatic hip-hop flow is backed up by a Motown-style band that makes sampling seem outdated.  Check them out at Thunder Road Music Club with West End Blend and Slam Kitchen and find out if you’re their #1 bae. –Brian Varneke

Defying definitive genre classification, Boston-based quartet, First Frost (formerly Foliage), has released a debut EP that feels more like a multi-movement work than an indie-rock album.  As a songwriting duo, Lauren Koppelman and Morgan Browne combine elements of shoegaze and psych/experimental rock with sleek pop leanings, creating an original tapestry of sound that is all and none of the influences that comprise them.  Check out the EP below, and weather the Winter with First Frost. –Brian Varneke

 With their self-titled debut, Colbis the Creature have released an EP, perfectly balanced between the catchy and the provocative.  Seeming to fully understand the importance of tension-release, combining tasteful dissonance with memorable vocal melodies, Colbis offers their new fans a record meant to be played loud and disruptively.  If intelligent lyrics are your thing, Nick Caliendo will gladly oblige with solid offerings throughout, although the highlight is closing track "James Dean".  Join these suburban Boston boys at O’Brien’s Pub on 1/18 with Nox and Snowhaus. –Brian Varneke